3 Common Boiler Problems

By
Cassel Home Comfort
|January 29, 2016

Whether it’s used for radiant floor heating, forced air heating,
or just the hot water in your home, your boiler is an important part of
your home’s functionality. A malfunctioning boiler can cause a great
deal of distress, especially during cold winters. Being without hot water
for cleaning is a problem, but for those who use a boiler as their main
source of heat, a malfunctioning boiler is a recipe for chilly days.

Fortunately, many of the issues you’ll find with a boiler are common.
Boilers aren’t the most complicated system to work with, but the
mixture of pressure and heat can make them dangerous if you don’t
know what you’re doing. While you can fix a few things on your own,
if you aren’t confident it’s better to call a professional.

Cold Water

If your water is running just fine and you don’t hear any strange
noises but the water is still cold, then you have a problem with the heating
system. The simplest problem is an issue with the thermostat. If the thermostat
itself is not sending a signal to the boiler that the water temperature
has fallen, then the heating process won’t begin. Replacing the
thermostat or control switch should solve the problem without requiring
major boiler repairs.

A slightly more complex fix is a problem with the pilot light. If the room
with your boiler is drafty, those drafts could be extinguishing the pilot
light whenever it lights. Fixing drafts and resealing the room will help
with this (and has the added benefit of improving insulation and reducing
heat loss for your home). Excess carbon deposit buildup on the pilot light
could be preventing the spark from igniting when it attempts to start.
Cleaning off the buildup will restore functionality, but be careful you
do not damage the pilot light. If the pilot light still does not function,
a broken thermocouple is likely. It should be replaced, a process which
we recommend is handled by a professional.

If you use a radiator and the you can feel heat coming from the pipes close
to the boiler (do not touch the pipes, just hold your hand nearby to see
if any heat is radiating) but the radiator pipes further away are still
cold, there is likely a blockage in the system or excess air inside the
radiator line.

Leaking Water

There’s almost nothing worse than walking into your basement and
stepping into a puddle of water. The sudden realization that your lack
of heat or hot water and the puddle in the basement are related is one
of those worse things. But leaking water from a boiler isn’t limited
to large breaks. Small leaks in the system can lead to drops in water
pressure, increased water bills each month, and colder temperatures in
your home.

Finding a leak isn’t difficult unless the leak is from a pipe in
your wall. Discolored walls, small puddles, and high water bills are all
tell-tale signs that your pipes are leaking. Low boiler water levels are
also a sure sign of a leak somewhere. Occasionally you can fix these leaks
by tightening up a few joints or resealing connections. Usually, a leak
requires a replacement for a section of pipe or a connection.

Kettling

If you hear a banging or whistling noise (similar to the bubbling-whistle
noise of a kettle boiling) from your boiler, then you’re looking
at what’s known as
kettling. The noise is caused by heating issues generated from hard water deposits
left behind by water. Getting the boiler cleaned or using a home-water
softer will remove or alleviate the banging noise.

It’s important to mention that if your boiler isn’t actually
heating your water, in the case of a broken pilot light or extreme levels
of kettling, the unheated water can become a habitat for bacteria. A broken
boiler is no joke, so it’s best to have it repaired as soon as possible.

If you need help detecting air leaks and other sources of inefficiencies
in your home, call your home comfort experts at
(217) 866-1596 for your
Free Whole Home Inspection and Analysis. We are available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you might have.

We also offer an ongoing Home Maintenance Plan to help ensure you not only
have regular heater/furnace maintenance and tune-up checks, but also saves
your money!

Cassel Home Comfort Heating & Cooling, situated in the Champaign IL,
is committed to being your best HVAC contractor choice in Central Illinois
in both Value and Customer Service!